Remembering the United States Capitol Attack on January 6, 2021

PORTRAITS OF A NATION

Composed January 2021

Duration: app. 19 minutes | Grade 4 Symphonic Orchestra

I acknowledge that this composition could be controversial. But this needs to be said. We must never forget what happened.

The purpose of this work is to mark the U.S. Capitol Attack on January 6, 2021, as one of America's darkest moments. I condemn this attack on our own country. The fear, pain, humiliation, and frustration, brought by the political divide and racial violence in the country, is portrayed within this heartfelt symphonic poem, which I started composing at the same time as the capitol attack. I began writing this work as the storming occurred. One can imagine the fear, distress, and anger everyone must have felt during that moment, just watching on television the events unfold as rioters barged into the U.S. Capitol. Five people died in the attack and many more were injured. Police officers committed suicide because of the aftermath of that day. I knew January 6 would go down in history and so I felt the need to put it into music.

At the very beginning of writing, I knew what it was going to sound like. There would be expressions of darkness, confusion, anxiety, and terror. The main theme was mainly inspired by Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait. I also used pieces of melodies from patriotic music such as the National Anthem, and America the Beautiful to symbolize our divided nation. The repeating motifs from the main theme continue throughout most of the piece, always reminding us of the terrorizing “justice” that was that day and the people’s actions on that day.

Ending it off on a dark note was also never my intention. I could have finished Portraits with a tragic and depressing coda that could clearly show my fear and anger. But “fighting” anger with anger also doesn’t solve anything. I knew I wanted to use this opportunity to not just express my deep emotions, but also encourage hope and unity. My last thoughts were to help bring back a sense of community. The first thing that I thought could do this was Amazing Grace? Every American knows it, and it touches our hearts every time, more than most other songs. The featured off-stage trumpet ensemble is my representation of the light that will shine over our beloved nation.

The meaning behind it is even better. History shows that the hymn was written by a former enslaver. With bigotry and racism at the forefront of the many reasons behind the Capitol attack, what better way to lead us into the future than with a hymn that unites us all?

The attack on the Capitol ignited something in us that can no longer be tamed: The spark that is racial justice and change for a better country, a country that we can be proud of. But we must also never forget the hope that one day we can lift our heads high again from the ashes of this historic tragedy. The hope that this nation will be free of racism and corruption, and we are all finally united.

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